Gilbert Hill (1898 - 1959)

Born 12 Jan 1898 in Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Barbara Mary (Fitzgerald) Hill — married 28 Feb 1923 in Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 3 May 1959 at age 61 in Orange, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Occupation: Orchardist

Gilbert (Gib) Hill was born at Spring Hill near Orange on 12 January 1898. He was the son of well known rifle shooter Thomas Baird Hill, who was a farmer at Spring Hill. Gib fought in World War I with the 30th Battalion, and it was not until the war ended and he returned to Orange in 1919, that he took any real interest in rifle shooting.

No doubt inspired by his father and with his war experience behind him, Gib joined the Orange Rifle Club and competed on a regular basis, gradually building up a reputation in the surrounding districts. The club was located directly across the road from his family home and orchard. His grandaughter has mentioned many times how she and her brothers would play 'dodge the bullet' behind the target area. How they survived we have no idea.

After only 18 months of competition shooting, Gib took out many district prizes and at the age of 22, he had the distinction of winning the State title at Chatsworth, near Casino, and this propelled him into the Australian Team to compete at Enoggera, in Queensland for the prestigious Kings Cup.

On 17 October 1920 in what was described as a day of torrential rain and exasperating conditions, Gib Hill wrote his name in the records books by taking on the best in the world, and winning the Kings Prize, generally regarded as the unofficial world championship of rifle shooting.

Hill led the field at the end of the second stage, but after the 800 yard range he had dropped into third place. In the concluding round Hill opened with two bull's eyes, dropped his third shot to an inner, but then shot seven perfect bull's eyes to win the event with a score of 278, four points ahead of his nearest rival.

Gib Hill remained an active member of the Orange Rifle Club and went on to represent Australia in several prestigious events, even though he never again achieved the success of the 1920 Kings Cup. He was also a keen supporter and foundation member of the Pinnacle Road Cricket Club and for many years teams in the Orange District Cricket Association competed for the Gib Hill Trophy. Gib passed away in Orange on 3 May 1959 at the age of 61. Credit:- http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au/site/index.cfm?display=167935

Sources

• From family records.